General Motors has patented a new system that could take the guesswork out of launching a car at the drag strip. The technology uses cameras and software to read the track’s Christmas Tree starting lights, predict when they will turn green and trigger the launch automatically.
The patent application was originally filed in January 2025, published in July 2026 and granted on November 3. It builds on the launch control systems already found in modern performance cars, but adds an interesting layer of automation.
The car’s cameras first identify the starting lights and prompt the driver to activate launch control. The driver then places their feet on the brake and accelerator pedals before the system takes over, allowing them to remove both feet. The car then maintains braking pressure and required torque on its own.
Instead of just responding to the green light, the software observes the sequence of yellow lights and matches it with stored timing patterns to predict the start. This could help deliver more consistent launches, without relying entirely on a driver’s reaction time.
